Competition

One of the things that make the Great Northern Union Chorus unique is the opportunity for competition. Very few other music arts organizations have an opportunity to compete against other like organizations. As members of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS), we compete against other world-class choruses from around the world.

The Great Northern Union’s competition history is rich and deep.

Competing choruses are judged on a 100 point scale in three categories: Singing, Music and Presentation.

The Great Northern Union is a member of the Land O’Lakes (LOL) district of the BHS. Each fall, qualifying choruses from the LOL compete in a district contest for the honored to be named best in the district and also for the opportunity to advance to the BHS International Competition the following summer.

Since forming in 1985, the GNU has been crowned LOL District Champion a record 21 times.

The International Competition history for the GNU is just as rich and impressive. The GNU has competed in the International Contest 21 times. Every time the GNU has competed, they have finished in the Top 10. Nine times, the GNU received medals by finishing in the Top 5.

The highest placements in the BHS International Competition to date include a 3rd Place finish in both 1991 and 2009. And in the summer of 2011 at the BHS International Contest in Kansas City, the GNU finished in 2nd place a mere 5 points away from the first place finishers. It was one of the closet finishes to a chorus contest at the BHS in decades.
The Great Northern Union is very proud of its competition history. It is a measure of the quality and excellence the chorus works to present to every audience.